Finance broking peak body warning over reports of cheaper mortgages

The nation’s peak industry body representing finance brokers has expressed alarm at reports that cheaper mortgages could be on the way due to the European Central Bank’s decision to push interest rates into negative territory.

Chief executive officer of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) Peter White says while everyone would like cheaper rates, it will also encourage people to overcommit without taking future rate rises into consideration.

“Our response to these media reports is ‘caveat emptor’ – buyer beware – as rates that are too low can only go in one direction.”

He said abnormally low rates may encourage more loans but, “the upwards correction could be quite large to compensate the extreme low.”

“This will not only remove any advantage borrowers had but could have the reverse effect and result in people losing their homes due to a failure to meet increased payments.”

He said just as the FBAA has often called for banks to absorb increases to protect borrowers, they should equally absorb any unusually low cost of funds.